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United States Patent |
5,071,192
|
Adler
|
December 10, 1991
|
Adjustable seating apparatus with full torso support
Abstract
An adjustable seating apparatus with full torso support for supporting
persons of varying sizes. The seating apparatus is portable and
adjustments can be made without the use of tools. A base unit includes a
number of detachable elongated members which can be replaced with
different size members, permitting both the length and width of the
support apparatus to be adjusted. A backrest is supported by vertical
members which are also detachable to permit adjustments in the height of
the backrest. The backrest also includes a restraint for securing the user
to the backrest about the torso. An optional tray is also adjustable in
height and provides a work surface for the user.
Inventors:
|
Adler; Lezlie J. (407 North Williamsbury, Birmingham, MI 48010)
|
Appl. No.:
|
360436 |
Filed:
|
June 2, 1989 |
Current U.S. Class: |
297/464; 4/572.1; 297/174R |
Intern'l Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Field of Search: |
297/170,172,487,488,460,464
4/571,572,573,575,578
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1256811 | Feb., 1918 | McNamara.
| |
1327295 | Jan., 1920 | Smith | 4/572.
|
1454565 | May., 1923 | Sanford.
| |
1858103 | May., 1932 | Menon.
| |
2177998 | Oct., 1939 | Schuette | 4/572.
|
2229411 | Jan., 1941 | Hughes.
| |
2285900 | Jun., 1942 | Chapman | 4/572.
|
2503938 | Apr., 1950 | Davis | 4/572.
|
2572282 | Oct., 1951 | Scanlon | 297/170.
|
2579340 | Jun., 1953 | Corbett | 4/572.
|
2669285 | Feb., 1954 | Young | 297/170.
|
2673595 | Mar., 1954 | Kump, Jr.
| |
2694438 | Nov., 1954 | Frech.
| |
3005208 | Oct., 1961 | Matthews | 4/578.
|
3188662 | Jun., 1965 | Watson.
| |
3499681 | Mar., 1970 | Benitez et al. | 297/465.
|
3656804 | Apr., 1972 | Nielsen.
| |
4632410 | Dec., 1986 | Bainbridge et al.
| |
4767160 | Aug., 1988 | Mengshoel et al.
| |
Foreign Patent Documents |
1009484 | Mar., 1952 | FR | 297/172.
|
0166141 | Jul., 1987 | JP | 297/465.
|
Other References
Columbia Medical Mfg. Corp., "Good News", Catalog (four pages), dated Jan.
1, 1989.
Columbia Company Catalog.
Advertising Sheet on Infant Seat, No. A753-1.
|
Primary Examiner: Chen; Jose V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce
Claims
I claim:
1. An adjustable seating apparatus for supporting a person in a seated
position with full torso support, the apparatus comprising:
a base structure adapted to rest on a substantially planar support surface,
the base structure including a plurality of first elongated substantially
horizontally arranged support members spaced apart from one another;
a backrest structure for adjustably and encirclingly supporting a torso of
a seated person;
a frame for supporting the backrest structure, said frame being rigidly
connected to both of the horizontally arranged support members of the base
structure and to the backrest structure; and
a removable tray structure for providing a play surface for a seated person
whose torso is supported by the apparatus said tray structure having at
least one relatively large substantially planar surface, and at least one
pair of spaced apart substantially vertical support members located
beneath the tray and supporting the forward portion of the tray structure
against downward movement, each of said vertical members being removably
connected to the horizontal support members of the base structure;
the plurality of first support members of the base structure being spaced
apart from one another, and extending forwardly and rearwardly of the
frame, thereby preventing the apparatus from tipping in either a forward
or rearward direction;
the backrest structure including first and second broad flexible support
members and fastening means for releasably fastening the support members
together about a torso of a person to be supported, each of the flexible
support members having a length and a height at least ten times and at
least four times respectively its average thickness, the first flexible
member being of a fixed size and sufficiently long to encircle at least
about one-half of a maximum inner girth of the backrest structure and
having first and second side portions that are moderately resistant to
flexion in a vertical direction and sufficiently flexible in a horizontal
direction to allow easy adjustment of the effective inner girth of the
backrest structure, and the second support member being for releasably and
encirclingly the remaining portion of the inner girth of the backrest
structure not encircled by the first support member, said second member
being generally more flexible than the first member, the first and second
flexible members cooperating with the fastening means to allow the inner
girth of the backrest structure to be easily changed up to about fifty
percent, whereby torsos of persons in a seated position which vary widely
in girth can be snugly encircled by the backrest structure, thereby
providing full torso support for such seated persons.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
the first flexible support member of the backrest structure includes a
flexible structural member made of strong plastic sheet material having
inner and outer surfaces an average length and an average height
respectively at least twenty times and at least six times its average
thickness, and much softer padding material attached to and covering
substantially all of the inner surface of the flexible structural member
such that the first flexible support member of the backrest structure has
a relatively soft padded surface presented to the torso of a person
supported by the apparatus; and
the second broad flexible support member is configured as a broad strap of
pliant nonmetallic material connected at opposite end portions thereof
along the outside surfaces of the first and second side portions of the
first flexible support member, such that when the second broad support
member is drawn in so as to reduce the effective circumference of the
backrest structure, the second flexible support member holds the first
member in a state characterized by radially inward, substantially
equiangular flexion of each of the side portions of the first flexible
member.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:
the substantially horizontal support members of the base structure each
have a middle portion, a tubular portion extending forwardly from its
middle portion and a tubular portion extending rearwardly from its middle
portion, the frame being connected to and supported by a respective one of
the middle portions, and
the frame includes a horizontal structure member and means for adjusting
the height of the backrest structure, said adjusting means including a
plurality of elongated substantially vertical tubular support members each
removably attached at one end thereof to the horizontal structure member
and at the other end thereof to a respective one of the middle portions of
the horizontal support members, in which said vertical tubular support
members are replaceable with another plurality of vertical tubular support
members of different length, thereby adjusting the height of the backrest
structure relative the base structure.
4. An apparatus for seating and supporting a seated person's body, said
apparatus comprising:
horizontally disposed base adapted to rest on a stationary planar surface;
a backrest assembly for supporting a seated person's body at the torso,
including first and second broad flexible support members, fastening means
for adjustably and releasably securing the first and second broad flexible
support members together to form an inner circumference having an annular
shape so as to encircle a seated person to be supported about the torso,
each of the flexible support members having a length and a height at least
ten times and at least four times respectively its average thickness, the
first flexible member being of a fixed size and sufficiently long to
encompass at least one-half of said inner circumference, whereby it will
encircle and support at least about one-half of the girth of the torso and
the first flexible member also having first and second side portions that
are moderately resistant to flexion in a vertical direction and
sufficiently flexible in a horizontal direction to allow easy adjustment
of the inner circumference of the backrest structure, and the second
support member being arranged to form the remainder of said inner
circumference whereby said second support member will releasably and
encircling support the remainder of the girth of the torso not encircled
by the first support member, said second member being generally more
flexible than the first member, the first and second flexible members
cooperating with the fastening means to allow the inner circumference of
the backrest structure to be easily changed by hand over a range of up to
about fifty percent, thereby enabling the backrest structure to be
manually adjusted so as to snugly encircle the torso of the seated person
to be supported, and thereby provide full torso support;
means for adjusting the height of said backrest assembly, attached to said
backrest assembly and to said base, including at least one pair of
vertical support members removably attached to said backrest assembly, and
also removably attached to said base, wherein said vertical support
members can be replaced by vertical support members of different lengths
to raise or lower the height of the backrest; and
means for adjusting the width of said apparatus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for adjusting the
width of said apparatus further comprises a plurality of elongated means,
including a first elongated member being removably attached to said base
and a second elongated member being attached to said backrest assembly and
also removably attached to said means for adjusting the height of said
backrest assembly, wherein said first and second elongated members can be
substituted for elongated members having different lengths to change the
width of said apparatus.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising tray means having brackets
removably engaged with said backrest assembly and also removably attached
to said base means, said tray means including a substantially horizontally
disposed planar member.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for
adjusting the height of said tray means including at least one pair of
vertical support members removably attached to said tray means and also to
said base, wherein said pair of vertical support members can be
substituted with vertical support members of different lengths to raise or
lower the height of the tray means.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising seat means attached to said
base.
9. An apparatus for supporting a seated person by the torso so as to
maintain such person in an upright position, said apparatus comprising:
a horizontally disposed base;
a backrest assembly for providing full torso support, including at least
first flexible member and means for adjusting the inner girth of the
backrest assembly, the first flexible member being of a fixed size and
sufficiently long to encircle at least about one-half of a maximum inner
girth of the backrest assembly, and having first and second side portions
that are moderately resist to flexion in a vertical direction and
sufficiently flexible in a horizontal direction to allow easy manual
adjustment of the inner girth of the backrest assembly over a range of at
least about thirty percent, the first flexible member cooperating with the
fastening means to allow the inner girth of the backrest assembly to be
easily changed by hand to snugly encircle a torso of a person to be
supported in a seated position, thereby providing full torso support;
means, attached to said base, for adjusting the height of said backrest
assembly, whereby a person may be supported by said backrest assembly at
different heights; and
tray means having brackets removably engaged with said backrest assembly
and also removably attached to said base, said tray means including a
substantially horizontally disposed planar member.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising seat means attached to said
base.
11. An apparatus for supporting a seated person by the torso so as to
maintain such person in an upright position, said apparatus comprising:
a horizontally disposed base;
a backrest assembly for providing full torso support, including at least
first flexible member and means for adjusting the inner girth of the
backrest assembly, the first flexible member being of a fixed size and
sufficiently long to encircle at least about one-half of a maximum inner
girth of the backrest assembly and having first and second side portions
that are moderately resistant to flexion in a vertical direction and
sufficiently flexible in a horizontal direction to allow easy manual
adjustment of the inner girth of the backrest assembly over a range of at
least about thirty percent, the first flexible member cooperating with the
fastening means to allow the inner girth of the backrest assembly to be
easily changed by hand to snugly encircle a torso of a person to be
supported in a seated position, thereby providing full torso support;
means, attached to said base, for adjusting the height of said backrest
assembly, whereby a person may be supported by said backrest assembly at
different heights;
tray means having brackets removably engaged with said backrest assembly
and also removably attached to said base, said tray means including a
substantially horizontally disposed planar member; and
means for adjusting the height of said tray means including at least one
pair of vertical support members removably attached to said tray means and
also to said base, wherein said pair of vertical support members can be
substituted with vertical support members of different lengths to raise or
lower the height of the tray means.
12. An apparatus for supporting a small person, such as a handicapped child
or an infant, by his or her torso in a seated position so that such a
person may sit upright, said apparatus comprising:
a base for use on a substantially flat support surface, the base having a
central support structure and a plurality of support members extending
substantially horizontally outwardly from the central support structure in
a manner which tends to prevent the base from tipping over;
a backrest assembly for providing full torso support, including at least a
first flexible member and manually releasable fastening means for
adjusting the effective inner girth of the backrest assembly, the first
flexible member being sufficiently long in a horizontal direction to
encircle at least about one-half of a maximum inner girth of the backrest
assembly, the first flexible member having first and second side portions
that are moderately resistant to flexion in a vertical direction and
sufficiently flexible in preselected horizontal directions to allow easy
manual adjustment of the effective inner girth of the backrest structure,
the first flexible member cooperating with the releasable fastening means
to allow the inner girth of the backrest structure to be easily and
manually changed to snugly encircle a torso of such a person to be
supported in a seated position, thereby providing full torso support to
such seated person;
wherein the backrest assembly further includes,
a second broad flexible elongated support member having first and second
end portions each attached to different portions of the first flexible
member, the first and second flexible support members each having a length
and a height at least ten times and at least four times respectively of
its average thickness, the first member being of a fixed size and
sufficiently long to encircle and support at least about one-half of the
maximum inner girth of the backrest assembly, and wherein
the second support member is arranged to releasable and encirclingly
support the remaining the girth of the torso not encircled by the first
support member, and the second flexible member is generally more flexible
than the first member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an apparatus for supporting the human
body at the torso while seated, and in particular, to a support apparatus
of the aforementioned type which can be adjusted to accommodate persons of
different sizes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices for supporting a person's body by the torso are useful in many
circumstances. Infants often require support to maintain a seating
position because they have not yet developed the requisite strength and
motor skills to maintain an upright position unassisted. In addition,
older children and adults with various physical handicaps require
assistance to maintain an upright position for short or extended periods
of time, especially where the person must be left unattended. Bathing is
one activity in which maintaining an upright position is extremely
important, and even temporary loss of support must be avoided.
A number of devices have long been available to support a person's body.
Many of these devices such as canes and walkers require certain
coordination and strength on the part of the user. Of those devices which
do not require assistance from the user, existing devices generally
include a backrest and support frame for holding the person in an upright
seated position.
Examples of such devices are found in the following patents:
______________________________________
First-Named Issue
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Year
______________________________________
1,858,103 Menon 1932
2,229,411 Hughes 1941
2,673,595 Kump 1954
3,656,804 Nielsen 1972
______________________________________
A number of body support devices are adapted for use by infants. One
example is the Model No. 704 bath support, manufactured by the Columbia
Company. However, when the infant grows, the apparatus becomes too small
for his needs, despite the fact that the older child may still require
support in certain circumstances, for example, when taking a bath.
Moreover, children with significant physical handicaps may require support
most of the time even as they grow to adulthood. Previous devices such as
the Columbia Model No. 704 device do not adjust to accommodate persons
having different size torsos. Thus it would be desirable to provide a body
support apparatus which can be adjusted to snugly fit and support persons
of different sizes with different size torsos. This would permit a single
body support apparatus to be used by a person as that person grows. In
addition, such an adjustable body support apparatus would permit a single
device to be used on different persons of different sizes.
An additional disadvantage with existing body support devices is that they
are generally quite rigid and only hold the torso in a single body
position. Thus it would be desirable to provide a single body support
apparatus which has a torso support with some flexibility to move a little
and thereby more comfortably accommodate persons sitting therein as such
persons attempt to lean or stretch in one direction or another.
In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of this invention to
provide body support apparatus which is adjustable to the extent that
persons of a fairly wide range of sizes may use the same device. It is
another object of this invention to provide a device which is easily
adjustable without requiring the use of tools. It is a further object of
this invention to provide an adjustable body support apparatus which is
relatively inexpensive, compact, light and easily portable to facilitate
multi-location usage. It is yet another object of this invention to
provide a body support apparatus which can comfortably and snugly
accommodate persons of different sizes as such persons lean, stretch or
move their torso while seated in the apparatus.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable
seating apparatus providing full torso support that is waterproof and made
of water resistant materials so that it is rugged and may be used in a
variety of settings, e.g., a bathtub, a sandbox, on the lawn, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing problems and to fulfill a number of the foregoing
objects, there is provided in accordance with the first aspect of the
present invention an adjustable seating apparatus for supporting a person
in a seated position with full torso support. The apparatus comprises: a
base structure adapted to rest on a substantially planar support surface;
a backrest structure for adjustably and encirclingly supporting the person
about the torso; a frame for supporting the backrest structure; and an
optional removable tray for providing a play surface at a convenient
height in front of the person to be supported when such person is seated
in the apparatus. The phrase "full torso support," as used herein, means
to snugly and comfortably support a significant portion of a person's
torso so as to allow such person to sit for extended periods of time,
without significant use of the musculature of the torso, particularly the
musculature of the abdomen and lower back, normally used by a person when
sitting erect on a floor or chair. The base structure may include a
plurality of first elongated substantially horizontally arranged support
members spaced apart from one another on either side of the person to be
supported. These support members may extend forwardly and rearwardly from
the transverse centerline of the torso of the person so as to prevent the
apparatus from tipping in either a forward or rearward direction while the
person is seated in the apparatus.
The backrest structure preferably includes first and second broad flexible
support members and fastening means for releasing and for adjusting the
effective length of the second flexible member by at least about 50%. Each
of these flexible support members preferably has a length and a height at
least 10 times and at least 4 times respectively its average thickness.
More preferably, the first and second flexible support members have an
average length and an average height respectively at least 20 times and at
least 6 times its average thickness. The first flexible member is
preferably of a fixed size and is sufficiently long to encircle and
support at least one-half of the girth of the torso. Further, this first
flexible number preferably has first and second side portions that are
moderately resistant to flexion in a vertical direction and sufficiently
flexible in a horizontal direction to allow easy adjustment of the
effective size of the backrest structure by at least about 30%, preferably
35%, or even 45% or more. The second support member is for releasably and
encirclingly supporting the remainder of the girth of the torso not
encircled by the first support member. The second member is preferably
generally more flexible than the first member. The first and second
flexible members cooperate with the fastening means to allow the effective
size of the backrest structure to be easily changed to snugly encircle the
torso of the person to be supported in a seated position, which thereby
provides full torso support.
The frame of the backrest structure is preferably rigidly connected to both
the horizontally arranged support members of the base structure and to the
backrest structure, thereby attempting to hold the backrest structure in
one position in spite of the forces applied thereto by the torso of the
person being supported.
The optional removable tray preferably has at least one relatively large
substantially planar surface, and more preferably may include a lip around
the perimeter thereof for providing additional strength as well as
preventing objects from rolling off of the tray. The tray may also include
at least one pair of substantially vertical support members located
beneath the tray for supporting the forward portion of the tray structure
against downward movement. Each of these vertical members may be removably
connected to the forward ends of the horizontal support members of the
base structure. The tray is preferably configured so that, when in place,
it obstructs the access of the person seated in the apparatus to the
fastening means of the backrest structure.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
apparatus for supporting a seated person's body by the torso, said
apparatus comprising: a horizontally disposed base; a backrest assembly
for providing full torso support, including means for adjusting the
effective girth of the backrest assembly by at least 30%; and means,
attached to said base, for adjusting the height of said backrest assembly,
whereby a person may be supported by said backrest assembly at different
heights. In this aspect of the invention, the means for adjusting the
height of said backrest assembly preferably comprises at least one pair of
spaced apart vertical support members, and a connection means for
removably attaching, by hand, the pair of vertical support members to said
backrest assembly and to said base, whereby the vertical support members
can be replaced by vertical support members of different lengths to raise
or lower the height of the backrest assembly.
In yet a further aspect and embodiment of this invention, the width of the
base, as well as the backrest assembly, may be adjusted. Additional
benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the
subsequent description of the preferred embodiments of this invention and
the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, like components are identified with identical reference
numerals in figures
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an adjustable body support apparatus
according to this invention, showing the optional tray thereof detached
from the support apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the adjustable body support apparatus of FIG.
1 with the tray shown installed, and also, showing, in phantom, a user of
the apparatus in a seated position.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the adjustable body support apparatus
with the tray installed.
FIG. 4 a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3, further
illustrating the vertical frame members of the FIG. 1 body support
apparatus.
FIG. 5 a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 3, further
illustrating the construction of the tray and seat cushion of the
adjustable body support apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 3,
illustrating a portion of the tray support apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 5,
illustrating a preferred construction of the backrest attachment for the
FIG. 1 apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a view of a portion of the base of the body support apparatus
incorporating a weight for increasing stability against tipping.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An adjustable seating or body support apparatus for providing full torso
support according to this invention is shown particularly by FIGS. 1, 2
and 3, and is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The support
apparatus 10 includes a base 12 designed to rest on the floor or other
flat surface and has a sufficiently large perimeter to prevent the support
apparatus 10 from being easily tipped by the user. The base 12 includes a
number of removable, elongated tubular frame members 14 namely, a lateral
elongated member 15, a left rear elongated member 17, a right rear
elongated member 19, a left front elongated member 21 and a right front
elongated member 23. These members 14 threadably engage with elbow
connecting members 16 to form a generally U-shaped configuration. The
tubular members 14 have right-hand threads on one end, such as those
identified at location 18 in FIG. 3. At the opposite end, tubular members
14 have left-hand threads, such as those at location 20 in FIG. 3. The
right-hand male threads at location 18 engages with complementary female
threads provided in connecting numbers 16. It should be appreciated that
other conventional or suitable means of attaching the tubular members 14
to the connecting members 16 may be employed, such as tapered press fit
connections, snapping and locking connections, etc. It is preferred that
the tubular members 14 be removable without the use of tools, as is made
possible by the use of threaded connections of the type shown at locations
18 and 20.
Also shown in FIG. 1 are a pair of T-shaped connectors 20 which are
threaded on their inside diameter to receive and connect to elongated tube
members 14. Elongated members 14, elbow members 16 and tee members 20 may
be comprised of PVC tubing or other suitable material. Tee connectors 20
also each have a vertically disposed threaded portion 24 which also
receives threaded male elongated members 26 which are disposed vertically,
and form backrest support posts. A backrest assembly or structure 28
includes a backrest 30 which has a broad, flexible restraint strap 32
attached to it. The restraint strap 32 is preferably about three inches in
height, but may range in height from about two to about four inches. The
strap 32 is preferably made of a woven nylon mesh material of sufficient
gage to have little (less than 5%) or no stretch when subject to forces
from the person seated within the apparatus 10.
The backrest 30 and the restraint strap 32 both preferably have
complementary portions of a hook and loop fastener system 34, such as the
well-known Velcro fasteners, attached thereto, or more preferably a
conventional plastic quick release buckle, as is further explained below.
This permits easily removable engagement of the restraint strap 32 with
the backrest 30 to secure the user of the body support apparatus 10. The
Velcro fasteners 34 should be of sufficient width and the restraint strap
32 should overlap sufficiently with backrest 30 to provide sufficient
surface area of Velcro contact to ensure that the occupant is adequately
secured, even when the occupant leans to and from. Similarly, the plastic
buckle should have a conventional adjustable strap. In FIG. 3, the
fastener 34 is not shown tightened about the girth 33 (shown as dashed
lines) of the torso of the person to be supported. Once the individual is
placed in the apparatus 10, the restraint strap 32 can be quickly detached
at the fastener 34 and re-secured much more snugly, thereby closely
surrounding and supporting the girth 33 of the torso of the person seated
therein. The back portion 30a of the backrest 30 is preferably about 6 or
7 inches high, but may range between about 4 inches and 9 inches high,
depending upon the overall size of the backrest assembly 28. The side
portions 30b and 30c of the backrest 30 may be of the same height, but
preferably are narrowed or tapered to a smaller height such as 2 to 4
inches, and preferably 3 inches, so as to be more flexible and less
cumbersome to the person seated in the apparatus 10. The backrest assembly
28 may be provided in various sizes in order to support various size
torsos. For example, one backrest assembly 28 may have an adjustable
effective size from about 17 inches to about 25 1/2 inches, which means
that it will provide effective support for torsos having a girth at the
point of contact with the person's torso ranging from about 15 inches to
about 25 inches, depending upon the adjustment of the restraint strap 32.
Larger and smaller size adjustable backrests are also contemplated, so
that persons with an even wider range of torso sizes can be accommodated.
The restraint strap 32 is preferably permanently attached by rivets,
conventional adhesives or other fastening means such as stitching, to side
portion 30b of backrest member 30.
The backrest member 30 is preferably formed of a semi-flexible plastic
member 35, such as 0.125 inch thick moderate density polypropylene or
polyvinylidene chloride. The significantly softer, more flexible padded
member 37 is preferably formed of 0.25 inch thick plastic foam of moderate
density such as closed cell polyurethane foam. The padded member 37 is
preferably permanently bonded to member 30 by conventional adhesives or
other sheet fastening means such as machine stitching (not shown). The
backrest 30 should be flexible enough to conform to the contours of the
user's torso when the restraint strap 32 is pulled snugly about the user's
torso and thereafter attached to the backrest 30 by means of the Velcro
fastener 34. Also, as best seen in FIG. 3, the restraint strap 32
preferably is positioned on the outside surfaces of side portions 30b and
30c in order to make the restraint strap easier to adjust and also to not
chafe against the torso of the person seated in the apparatus 10 being
tightened.
The backrest assembly 28 also includes a crossbar 36 which is attached to
the backrest 30 by means of one or more suitable fasteners 38. As shown in
FIG. 7, the fasteners 38 may be a pair of rivets, however it will be
appreciated that other types of fasteners may also be employed. Backrest
support bar 36, like the elongated member 14 contains threaded ends having
a right hand thread 18 on one end and a left hand thread 20 on the other
end as depicted in FIG. 3. The backrest crossbar 36 engages with a pair of
backrest connectors 40 which are conventional threaded L type connectors
similar to the connectors 16 in the base 12.
To provide increased resistance against skidding along a surface on which
the body support apparatus 10 is placed, a number of pads 42 may
optionally be attached by means of an adhesive to the underside of the
base 12. The pads 42 may be made of compliant rubber or any other
skid-resistant material.
In the preferred embodiment, a tray assembly 44 is removably attached to
the base 12. Tray assembly 44 includes a rigid plastic, generally planar
tray 46 which may be provided with a lip 48 around its perimeter. The tray
46 has attached to its underside a pair of T-shaped support members 50,
which are secured so that the central part of the T, a single cylindrical
portion, extends downwardly. The T-shaped support member 50 is threaded on
its inner diameter to receive a vertical tray support 52 which is
threadably attached to the T-shaped support 50. The vertical support
members 52 have tapered portions 54 which permit the entire tray assembly
44 to be mounted into the body support apparatus 10 by inserting the
tapered portion 54 into a pair of L-shaped connectors 56. The L-shaped
connectors 56 are attached to the left front and right front base members
21 and 23. Tray assembly 44 also includes a pair of rear support hooks 58
which engage with the backrest crossbar 36 to secure the rear portion of
the tray 46, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In an alternative embodiment,
shown in FIG. 3 the tray 46 is configured with lip 48 extended at the rear
portion 60 so that it extends over backrest crossbar 36 to provide rear
support for the tray assembly 44.
To provide more comfortable seating, a cushion 62 may be placed beneath the
backrest 28. Cushion 62 may be constructed of a variety of soft materials
including foam rubber or molded closed cell polyurethane. Cushion 62
includes recessed portion 64 which conforms with the body of the user to
further increase seating comfort. Cushion 62 may also be removably
attachable to the base 12 via a pair of support members 66 conventionally
attached to its underside which extend between left front and right front
base members 21 and 23. The support members 66 have semicylindrical
plastic spring clip members attached to each end which engage with base
members 21 and 23 to secure the seat 62 to the base 12. Alternatively,
nylon straps having Velcro fasteners at the ends thereof could be used as
support members 66 if desired with each of the straps simply encircling
the base members 21 and 23.
While the base 12 is sufficiently wide and long to ensure against tipping,
additional stability may be provided by means of weights. As shown in FIG.
3, a weight rod or bar 70 may be inserted into the rear base support
member 15 or any other of the tubular horizontal members forming part of
the base 12. Weight bar 70 may be constructed of a suitable, high density
material such as iron, sand encased in a plastic tube, and the like.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, triangular metal weight portions 72 may
be attached to the top side of the base connectors 16.
The various tubular members of the base 12, the tray structure 44 and the
frame supporting the backrest 30 may be sealed or filled with a water
resistant foam so as to not trap water. Further, all components of the
apparatus 10 are preferably made of water-proof or water resistant
materials so that the apparatus 10 may be used in environments where water
is present, such as bathtubs, sandboxes, lawns and the like.
The body support apparatus 10 may be used in a number of configurations. In
its most simplest form, the body support apparatus comprises the base 12
and the backrest assembly 28 which may be placed in a bathtub or other
suitable surface for seating when it is desired to support and restrain
the mobility of a person in a seated position. The user/occupant 74 may
sit on the floor surface while the base assembly 12 with backrest 28
attached is slid from behind until the backrest touches the back of the
user 74. The restraint strap 32 is then wrapped around the user 74 and
attached to the backrest 30 by means of a pair of Velcro strips 34 or
plastic quick release buckle. One such conventional plastic quick release
buckle is available from Danmar Products Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich. (Model No.
4165). The body support apparatus will then support the user/occupant 74
from falling over or from getting up and moving about. For example, this
may be desired while the occupant 74 is in a bathtub taking a bath.
To support the user 74 in any desired seating position, the vertical
backrest supports 26 may be removed by rotating them which will unscrew
the left hand and right hand threads on either end until it is disengaged
from the backrest connectors 40 and the T-shaped connectors 22. Longer
vertical support members 26 may then be substituted by inserting the ends
into the T-shaped connector 22 and the backrest connector 40 and rotating
until the threads are completely engaged. Depending on the length of the
longer vertical supports 26, the different size users 74 may now be
comfortably supported.
To change the dimensions of the perimeter of the base 12, to thereby
increase stability for raised positions, or to accommodate larger persons,
varying lengths of base members 14 may be substituted. This is
accomplished by rotating any of the base members 14 to disengage the
threads on both ends, such as threads 18 and 20 shown in FIG. 3. The
substituted base member 14 may then be reinserted into the base into the
same manner by inserting into the connectors 16 and rotating the new base
member 14 in an opposite direction until its threads are completely
engaged with those in the connector 16. In this way, the width and the
length of the base 12 can be adjusted, limited only by the lengths of base
members 14 available. It should be noted that when the length of the rear
base member 15 is changed, the backrest horizontal member 36 will also
have to changed to a length which corresponds to the new base horizontal
or rear member 15. This is required to insure that the backrest vertical
supports 26 line up with the T connector 22. To replace the backrest
crossbar 36, the entire backrest 30 will also have to be replaced if a
permanent connection such as the rivet 38 shown in FIG. 7 is employed.
Alternatively, a removable connection may be used which would permit
substituting various lengths of the backrest crossbar 36 while using the
same backrest 30.
While the base 12 and backrest assembly 28 may be used alone, in the
preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 through 5, the body support
apparatus 10 may be used with a tray assembly 44. To use the tray 44, the
user 74 is first placed into the seat 30 with the restraint strap 32
connected. The tray 44 is then placed over the base 12 until tapered
portions 54 line up and are inserted into the connectors 56. Tapered
portions 54 permit the tray 44 to be easily lifted off when it is desired
to remove the user 74 or to use the body support apparatus without a tray.
The tray 44 provides additional support to the user 44 as well as
providing a surface on which to conduct various activities such as
playing, drawing, eating, etc. Another advantage of the tray is that when
in position it substantially obstructs access to the fastener system 34,
so that the user thereof cannot inadvertently unfasten himself or herself.
To accommodate a user 74 as he grows, or to accommodate users of different
sizes, the height of the tray 44 may be varied by substituting vertical
support members 52 for longer members. This may be accomplished simply by
unscrewing the vertical support members 52 into the tray T connectors 50.
It will be appreciated that when a higher tray level is used by means of
longer vertical members 52, the backrest vertical supports 26 will have to
be changed to longer lengths so that the tray lip supports 58 will engage
with the backrest crossbar 36 maintaining a level position of the tray.
Trays of different sizes may also be substituted for the tray 44 thereby
accommodating different uses as well as users 74 of different sizes. This
may require changing the left front and right front base members 21 and 23
to accommodate a longer or shorter tray 44. It will be appreciated that as
an alternative means for adjusting the size of various portions of the
adjustable body support apparatus 10, base members 14, vertical backrests
members 26 and tray members 52, may all incorporate telescoping tubes
which each comprise a pair of telescoping tube sections that are secured
by means of a conventional rotatable ring tightening mechanism.
In an additional alternative embodiment, some of the base or backrest
support portions of the body support apparatus 10 may be constructed using
long pieces of metal with straight sections and bent sections, thereby
obviating the need to use the L-shaped connectors 16. While the above
description explains in detail the preferred embodiments of the present
invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to
modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope
and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.
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